The nature of our research

The main research focus of the unit is on the economic importance of coastal and off-shore marine environments. This involves examining the economic utility of the marine environment (e.g. transportation, recreation) and ecological value (e.g. fisheries, aquaculture) derived from the productivity of associated ecosystems.  The coastal and contiguous marine environment surrounding Ireland and the EU in general provides the geographical focus for the research of the unit. Consideration of the human dimension in the management of marine ecosystems is also a critical component of all research projects within the unit.

Unit projects include the collection and monitoring of socio-economic marine data for Ireland, the estimation of participation rates and value of marine-related recreation activities, an analysis of market orientation, competitiveness and innovation of firms in the Irish seafood sector, and many other research activities. The key objectives of the unit are as follows:

Build marine socio-economic research capacity through the interactions of a Marine Socio-Economic Research Cluster in Galway comprising NUI, Galway, RERC- Teagasc and the Marine Institute

Carry out research which will underpin the Marine Institute’s Sea Change Marine Strategy through describing, modelling and analysing the current state of the marine sector, simulating alternative scenarios and proposing or recommending alternative policy measures, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the marine sector.

Support/complement scientific research projects through joining in project proposals from other branches of marine science, thereby providing economic evaluation to marine science findings.

Attract research funding to support the elaboration of the marine socioeconomic research programme in Galway, including future Irish funding and, in particular, European Commission funding.

Train PhD students in Marine Socio-economic Research, so that they can continue to sustain the socioeconomic research effort as well as transferring tacit knowledge to the marine industry, thereby creating innovative capacity and enhanced competitiveness to the sector.

Provide placement for potential future researchers in the marine area, thereby upgrading their interest and skills.

Who are we and what do we do?

SEMRU is based in the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at NUI, Galway. SEMRU is also associated with a doctoral programme in Marine Economics funded through the Beaufort Award which was set up under the Sea Change Strategy and the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (2006-2013), with the support of the Marine Research Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. PhD students can pursue research of an interdisciplinary nature with a focus on marine economics and coastal  rural development issues.  Areas of research interest within the group include:

Fisheries economics (i.e. modelling the impact of the Common Fisheries on the fishing industry in Ireland, and in particular its impact on coastal communities and their sustainability).

Economic evaluation of marine energy sources (i.e. development of a greenhouse gas (GHG) model which will enable the potential impacts of policy investments in the area of marine energy to be estimated. The GHG model will facilitate policy planning and development through comparative assessment of marine based renewable energy systems with the terrestrial alternatives).

Valuation of ecological resources (i.e. marine ecosystem services, coastal fisheries, outdoor recreation).

Natural resource management in EU and CEE countries (e.g. environmental stewardship, protected areas, biological diversity, common pool resources).

Evaluation of Natural Resource Management (NRM) incentives (e.g. marine-environment schemes, rural development policies, direct and indirect incentives).

Institutional Economics (i.e. common pool resources, environmental partnerships, community-based management of marine recreation resources and tourism).